Apparatus for fishing through ice



Aug. 25, 1953 E. c. FREEMAN 2,649,801

' APPARATUS FORFISHING THROUGH ICE Filed May 22, 1951 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T i M i /(Y IN V EN TOR.

Aug. 25, 1953 E. c. FREEMAN A APPARATUS FOR FISHING THROUGH ICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22} 1951 INVENTOR. 494 CZFMEMIA wwzmwpmvxflmm Patented Aug. 25,1953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR. FISHING THROUGH ICE Earl C. Freeman, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 22 1951, Serial No. 227,579

4 Claims. (01. 43-47) This invention relates to ice fishing equipment, and more particularly to equipment for supporting a fishing line in a non-freezing position below ice covering a body of water and providing a signal above the ice.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide improved ice fishing equipment which can be mounted on ice covering a body of water and extended through a hole in the ice to support a fishing line and reel in the water below the ice where the line and reel will not freeze, and which provides a signal disposed above the ice and connected to the line to indicate a strike by a fish; which protects the connection between the line and the signal device against freezing, so that the signal device willalways operate freely and the line can be freely taken off by a hooked fish; which provides selectively usable signal heads, one of which provides a signal visible at a distance in the daytime and another of which provides a light signal visible at night; which can be folded to a compact condition for transportation and storage; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and effective and efficient in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunc-,

tion with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational viewof ice fishing equipment illustrative of the invention shown mounted in operative position on ice covering a body of water; 7

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the ice fishing equipment illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross-sectional View on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view.

on an enlarged scale onthe line 9-19 of Figure 8.

With continued reference to the drawings, the signal device comprises an elongated, tubular structure, generally indicated at III, and 'comat the beveled ends thereof.

2 prising interconnected sections, as indicated at I2, I3 and I4.

As is particularly illustrated in Figure 4, the section I3 has an outwardly projecting annular flange I5'on its upper end, said flange having peripheral screw threads thereon, and the section I4 has on its lower end an internally screwthreaded, annular socket 35 which receives the flange I5 to secure the sections I3 and I4 together in end-to-end relation and the section I3 is provided with an internally screw-threaded socket 35' at its lower end which receives the peripherally threaded flange IE on section I2 to secure the sections I2 and I3 together in end-toend relationship.

The sections I2 and I3 may be of substantially the same length and the upper section I l is longer than the sections I2 and I3. Suitable clamps I1 extend around the lower portion of the section I2 at spaced apart locations therealong, and secure a fishing line reel I8 of known construction to this bottom section, so that the reel is disposed at the side of the section andextends outwardly therefrom. A fishing line I9 is wound on the reel and extends therefrom, carrying a suitable baited hook, not illustrated, at its end.

A pair of plates 2|] and 2I are mounted on the upper section It of the tubular structure at re-' spectively opposite sides of this section and near the end of the section I4 remote from the section 13. These plates are disposed .in substantially parallel relationship to each other and extend at' 24 of semicircular cross-sectional shape are disposed at respectively opposite sides of the section I4 and hingedly connected, each at one end, to

the plates 20 and 2| at the corresponding sides of the tubular section. The ends of the arms connected to the tubular section are beveled off, as indicated at 25 and 25', and tubular sleeves 26 and 21 are secured to the arms 23 and 24, re-

spectively, on the convex sides of the arms and These sleeves, are disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal center lines of the corresponding arms, and extend transversely across the space between the plates 2&3 and El near the lower edges of the plates and adjacent the corresponding sides of the section [4, and pivot pins 23 and 29 extend through the sleeves 26 and 2?, respectively, and through registering apertures in the plates 2!] and 2| to hingedly connect the arms 23 and '24 to the tubular section 14 for movement of the arms between a folded position in which the arms extend along the tubular section, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, and a position in which the arms project radially outwardly from the tubular section M in respectively opposite directions and substantially perpendicular to the tubular section, as illustrated in full lines in Figures 1 and 2.

Leaf springs 30 and 31 are secured to the arms 23 and 24, respectively, each at one end, at a location intermediate the length of the corresponding arm, and each of these springs has on its free end a hook formation selectively engageable with the pins 22 to hold the arms in selected positions of angular adjustment relative to the tubular structure 13.

A rod 32 extends longitudinally of the tubular structure In and is longitudinally movable therein. A signal bobber 83 is secured on the end of the rod 32 at the end of the tubular structure adjacent the plates 28 and 2!, and this signal bobber is movable by the rod between a position in which it is disposed entirely within the upper end portion of the section M of the tubular structure and a position in which it projects above the upper end of the tubular structure. The other end of the rod is disposed inwardly of the outer or bottom end of the section i2 of the tubular structure, and a line eye 33 is secured to this end of the rod. The fishing line I9 is slidably received in the eye 33, so that a pull on the line will exert a downward pull on the rod 32.

A sealing diaphragm 34 formed of flexible, water impervious material and in the form of an elongated, partly conical sleeve is disposed within the section l3 of the tubular structure, and has at its larger end an outwardly extending, annular flange which is clamped between the flange formation 35' on the upper end of the section l2 and the socket formation It on the lower end of the section :3. This diaphragm extends longitudinally of the section l3 from the lower end of this section to a location near the upper end of the section, and at its upper end it is firmly clamped to rod 32 by suitable means, such as the clamp band or'wire 33.

The flange of this diaphragm is provided with angularly spaced apart apertures, and the flange 13 of section [2 is provided on its face engaging the diaphragm flange with angularly spaced, apart pins received one in each diaphragm flange aperture to hold the diaphragm flange in place on the flange l6, and the socket 35 has an annular groove in its bottom surface receiving the outer end portions of the pins.

A second diaphragm 31 in the form of an elongated, tapered sleeve is disposed in section l4 and has at its larger end an outwardly projecting flange 38 clamped between the top surface of flange on section i3 and the bottom wall of socket 35 on the lower end of section [4. This flange 38 has a circular series of apertures angularly spaced apart around the flange thereof, and flange l5 of section l3 carries on its end surface a series of pins 39 which extend through corresponding apertures in the flange 38 of the diaphragm and are received in a groove 40 provided in the bottom wall of socket 35. These pins 39 maintain the diaphragm flange 38 securely clamped between the adjacent ends of the sections l3 and M of the tubular structure. The diaphragm 3'! extends longitudinally of section M, from the bottom end of this section to a location intermediate the length of the section and is clamped at the upper end to the rod 32 by suitable means, such as the clamp wire or clamp band 4|. The diaphragm 31 and the connection of its flange between the adjoining ends of sections 13 and M is similar in all respects to the diaphragm 34 and the connection of its flange between the adjoining ends of sections i2 and i3.

The diaphragms 3 2 and 31, while permitting longitudinal movement of the rod 32 in the tubular structure will prevent water from rising in the tubular structure above the level of the water in Which the lower portion of the tubular structure is submerged, so that no water can freeze in the space between the rod and the tubular structure to impede movements of the rod.

In the use of the device as above described, with the tube sections assembled together and with the diaphragms in the indicated manner, and with the rod extending through the tubular structure and carrying the signal bobber at one end of the tubular structure, the fishing line is passed through the eye or hook 33 and baited, a length of line being left depending from the eye 33 in accordance with the depth of the water in which the device is to be used. The arms 23 and 2A are moved outwardly until they extend substantially perpendicular to the tubular structure, and are releasably locked in this position by engaging the hook formations E2 and =l3on the free ends of the springs 33 and 3! with the proper pin 22. The. tubular structure at the sides of the arms 23 and 24 adjacent the reel I8 is then inserted through a fishing hole 44 in an ice layer or formation 45 on a body of water in which the fishing is to be done. The arms will rest on the ice at the sides of the fishing hole 44, and the tubular structure will be suspended from the arms in substantially vertical position with the greater part of its portion below the arms submerged in the water, and with water excluded by the diaphragms from the space between rod 32 and the tubular structure. Rod 32 is now positioned so that the signal bobber extends above the upper end of the tubular structure, the rod being supported in this position by the flexible diaphragms. When the hook carried by the fishing line [9 is struck by a fish, the pull on the line will pull the rod 32 downwardly and pull the signal bobber into the upper end portion of the tubular structure, the disappearance of the bobber indicating to the fisherman that the hook has been struck. The entire device may now be lifted from the ice until the reel is brought to position above the ice for reeling in the fish. While the reel and line are disposed in the water below the ice, the line and reel will not freeze, and the hooked fish may take the line oil of the reel against the resistance of the reel only and will not break the line. 1

If a fisherman desires to use several devices at the same time and to operate them from a distance, the tip-up signal head, generally indicated at 46 and particularly illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, may be used to provide a signal visible from a distance to indicate when a fish has been taken by the device. This signal head comprises a sleeve 41 which receives the upper end portion of the upper section IA of the tubular structure In and is secured thereon by a suitable means, such as the set screw 48 A tubular socket is secured at one end to the sleeve and extends upwardly.

from the sleeve and outwardly of the tubular structure when the signal head is, operatively mounted on the latter. An arm 50 isqsecured at one vend tothe sleeve 41; at a location substantially diametrically opposite the.socket;49,and= also extends upwardly from the sleeveand .out-,.

wardly of the tubular structure. Thisv armhas a hinge eye on its end remotefrom the sleeve 47 and adjacent the hinge eye is provided with an aperture 152. A flagpole 55, preferably in the form of an elongated coil spring, has one end secured in the socket 49,.and a flag 56 by this pole near its other end.

A trigger lever 51 is hingedly connected at one end by a hinge pin 58 .which extends through the: hinge eye 5| and through hinge eyes or lugs 59 on the corresponding ends of the levers 5'! and disposed one in each side of the eye 50. In order to set this signal device, the free end of the pole 55 is inserted through the aperture 52 in the arm 58 and engaged therein. The lever 51 has an extension 69 thereon near its end :pivotally connected to the arms 50 and this lever is connected at its other end to the bobber 38 by a cord-6|. When the rod 32 drops pulling the bobber 38 inwardly of the section M of the tubular structure, the bobber pulls downwardly on the cord6l and on the correspond-ingend of the lever 51. This forces the distal end of the lever extension 60 against the end of the pole 55 engaged in the aperture 52 and forces this end of the pole out of the aperture freeing the pole so that it jerks to an upright position and raises the flag 56. This raising of the flag 56 indicates to the fisherman that the hook associated with the device has been struck by a fish.

When it is desired to use the device for fishing at night or at other times when it is not easy to observe the flag or bobber signals, the electric signal head, generally indicated at B5 and illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, may be used. This signal head comprises an elongated cylindrical body 66 having one end open and having an end Wall 61 closing its other end. The open end of the body 66 receives the upper end portion of the tube section It to support the head in upright position on the tubular structure, and a pair of elongated strips 68 and 69 extend longitudinally of the interior of the hollow body at diametrically opposite sides thereof and have their ends received in openings provided in the end wall 61. These conductors 68 and 69 terminate short of the open end of the cylindrical body and a switch arm Hi is pivotally connected at one end to the conductor 69 at the end of this conductor remote from the end wall 67. The switch arm 10 has a length such that, when free, it will extend across the tubular body 66 and contact the conductor 68 to complete a circuit between these conductors. The openings in the end wall in which the ends of the conductors are received extend through the end wall and an extension cord plug H has its prongs 12 and 13 received in these openings and respectively in electrically conducting engagement with the conductors 68 and 69. A two- Wire extension cord 14 extends from the plug H to a suitable visual or audible signal device, such as a lamp or a bell or buzzer.

When the device is set, the bobber 33 engages the switch arm 10 and holds this switch arm up out of engagement with the contact stri 68, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 4. When is carried .claims are, therefore, intended to be the rod '32. is dropped by the pull of a fish on the! fishing-line l9, the'bobber is 'pulled down releasingxthe switch lever to bridge the space between the contact strips 68v and 69 and complete the.

signal circuit 30.

The invention may be embodied in other spe-* all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which comewithinthe meaning and range of equivalency of the therein. I

What is claimed is: 1.'Ice fishing equipment comprising a tubular structure adapted to -be supported in upright position in a hole in ice covering a body of water with ture on ice, a rod extending through said tubular vi structure and longitudinally movable therein,

flexible means providing a fluid seal between said said rod, means at the other end of said rod for connecting a fishing line thereto, said bobber being movable into said tubular structure in response to the pull of a fishing line on said rod, and'a signal head secured on said tubular structure at said one end thereof and actuated by said bobber, said signal head comprising a sleeve receiving said tubular structure at said one end thereof, a flexible pole secured at one end to said sleeve, a flag secured to said pole near the other end thereof, an arm secured at one end to said sleeve and engageable at its other end with said other end of the pole to hold the latter in a bowed condition, a trigger lever pivotally mounted on said arm and engageable with said pole to free the latter from said arm, and means connecting said bobber to said trigger lever.

2. Ice fishing equipment comprising an elongated tubular structure, a pair of plates at opposite sides of and mounted on said tubular structure, elongated concave arms hingedly connected each at one end to said plates near one end of the latter and movable between a folded position in which they extend along and receive said tubular structure and an extended position in .which they project radially of said tubular structure with their concave portions facing downwardly to rest on the surface of ice around a hole in which said tubular structure is positioned to support the tubular structure, resilient strut means actin between saidarms and said tubular structure and being arranged to support the former in selected positions relative to the latter, a rod extending through said tubular structure, an elongated diaphragm of flexible material connected between said rod and said tubular structure near the other end of the latter and providing a water-tight seal therebetween, a signal bobber on the end of said rod at said one end of said tubular structure and movable by said rod into and out of'said tubular structure, a reel mounted on said tubular structure at said other end thereof, a fishing line wound on said reel and extending therefrom, and an eye secured embraced to said rod at the end'thereof adjacent said other end of the tubular structure and slidably receiving said line, said eye being disposed inwardly of said other end of the tubular structure so that a pull on said line will move said rod 'to pull said bobber into said tubular structure at said one end of the latter.

3. Ice fishing equipment comprising a tubular structure adapted to be supported in an upright position in a hole in ice covering a body of Water with one end above and its other end below the e a a o l es at opp s e sid s f and mounted on said tubular structure, a pair of elongated concave arms pivotally secured to opposite sides of said plates near said one end thereof ior supporting said tubular structure on ice, said arms being foldable at times to positions receiving said tubular structure, a rod extending through said tubular structure and longitudinally movable therein, flexible means providing a fluid seal between said rod and said tubular structure near said other end of the latter, a signal bobber on said rod at said one end of said tubular structure and movable into and out of the latter by movement of said rod, means at the other end of said rod for connecting a fishing line thereto, said bobber being movable .into said tubular structure in response to the pull of a fishing line on said rod, and respective resilient struts secured to said arms and being arranged to lockingly engage selected pins car.- ried by said plates to secure the arms in selected extended positions relative to the tubular structure.

4. Ice fishing equipment comprising a tubular structure adapted to be supported in an upright position in a hole in ice covering a body of water with one end above and its other end below the ice, a pair of plates at opposite sides of and mounted on said tubular structure, respective arms pivotally secured to said plates near said one-end thereof for supporting said tubular structure on ice, respective resilient strut elements secured to said arms and engageable with selected pins carried by said plates to secure said arms in selected supporting positions, a rod extending through said tubular structure and longitudinally movable therein, flexible means providing a fluid seal between said rod and said tubular structure near said other end of the latter, a signal bobber on said rod at said one end of the tubular structure and movable into and out of the latter by movement of said rod, means at the other end of the rod for connecting a fishing line thereto, said bobber being movable into said tubular structure in response to the pull of a fishing line on said rod, and a signal head secured on said tubular structure at said one end thereof and actuated by said bobber.

EARL C. FREEMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,173,827 Marsh Feb. 29, 1916 2,198,286 Krivutza Apr. 23, 1940 2,425,825 Philips Aug. 19, 1947 2,439,451 Clark Apr. 13, 1948 2,564,065 Jaden Aug. 14, 1951 

